FR2782095A1 - PLANT CELL PROCESSED WITH AT LEAST THE ENCODING PART OF THE GENE ENCODING FIBRILLIN - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a transformed plant cell comprising at least the coding part of the gene coding for fibrillin and the means required for its expression. The invention also concerns a transforming vector, a transgenic plant and a method for obtaining transgenic plants with resistance to stress.

Description

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 The present invention relates to a transformed plant cell, the regeneration of which produces a plant having resistance to different stress conditions that may be imposed during its growth, the plant thus produced, and a method for obtaining this cell and this plant.

 In its natural environment, a plant often suffers a water deficit, at least during certain periods of the year, as well as exposure to excessive light and heat, or conditions of high salinity.

 Such events disrupt the process of photosynthesis, inhibit enzymatic activity, and may result in death of the plant.

 According to the invention, a transgenic plant capable of supporting at least the above-mentioned aggressions is obtained over a longer period than can be tolerated by the corresponding wild plant.

 The authors further observed that under normal conditions of development (watering, light, pH, etc.), ie in the absence of marked stress, the transgenic plant grows more rapidly, and that paradoxically, this early development concerns both the size of the stem and leaves, as well as the flowering. This effect is unexpected because in the wild plant, the stem and leaves grow at the expense of the formation of the flower, and vice versa.

 The solution provided by the invention consists in transforming a plant cell by all or part of the gene encoding fibrillin to allow expression in the plant.

 Fibrillin is a structural protein essential for the structuring of fibrillar-type chromoplasts, and more specifically the fibrils they contain. The gene encoding this protein is induced during the fruit ripening phase during

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 which fibrillin is in maximum concentrations.

 The fibrils consist of a hydrophobic core consisting essentially of carotenoids, a lipid layer covering the nucleus and a protein layer of fibrillin surrounding the lipid layer, and whose organization results from a self-assembly mechanism during the presence of carotenoids, galactolipids, phospholipids and fibrillin.

 Fibrillin is synthesized in the cell cytoplasm, is imported into the plastid and matured, when crossing the plastid envelope, into a soluble protein stored in the stroma, waiting to be used for the formation of fibrils.

 Knowing the role of fibrillin in the mechanism of the transformation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts, that is to say in the sense of a loss of chlorophyll, the results observed on the development of the transgenic plants of the invention are surprising .

Indeed, one could expect a toxic effect of overexpression of the gene encoding fibrillin, by decreasing the photosynthetic activity.

 Before further explaining the invention, certain terms used in the present description are defined.

 A plant cell is a cell derived from a plant.

 A plant is a multicellular organism whose chlorophyll is one of the constituents, flowers or fruits.

 By "complementary DNA" or "cDNA" is meant the copy of the RNA in its DNA form by the action of a reverse transcription. In the present invention, the cDNA may comprise the transcription of the unspliced introns, such as in particular for the sequence SEQ ID N 2.

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 By stress, one understands in particular a water deficiency, an injury or a photooxydative stress. The term "photooxidative stress" includes any developmental condition that may cause damage caused by reactive oxygen, such as superoxide or singlet, for example. Thus, we mean stress related to herbicide exposures, salinity, temperature variations, pathogen attacks, light.

 A first subject of the invention is a transformed plant cell comprising at least the coding part of the gene coding for fibrillin and the means necessary for its expression.

 In particular, said gene is derived from Capsicum annuum; its sequence is deduced, after splicing introns 1 and 2 of the sequence SEQ ID N 2.

 A second subject of the invention is a transgenic plant which has a resistance to stress as defined above, in particular to photooxidative stresses, and which can be obtained by regeneration of a cell as previously described.

 The invention also relates to a transformation vector that can be used to obtain a transformed cell of the invention.

 It comprises at least the coding part of the gene coding for fibrillin and the means necessary for its expression. Preferably, it comprises the gene encoding fibrillin from Capsicum annuum.

 In an application to the transformation of a plant cell, it further comprises: a transcription promoter or transcription promoter fragment of a gene expressing naturally in plants, a transcription terminator.

 By promoter of transcription of a gene expressing itself naturally in plants, we mean a

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 promoter selected from constitutively expressed promoters, ie in all organs and tissues and in a relatively equivalent manner from one organ or tissue to another, or from differentially regulated promoters. The 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is an often used example of a promoter considered to be relatively constitutive. Differentially regulated promoters may function more strongly in one tissue or organ than another, or differently depending on the stage of development of the organ or tissue, or may be induced as a result of a change in environmental conditions. stress or as a result of the attack of a pathogen.

 A particularly suitable vector comprises a complementary DNA corresponding to said gene, comprising for better expression at least one of the two introns 1 and 2 of said gene, and better still, both introns 1 and 2.

 The 5 'end of the cDNA is preferably determined between position 1 and position 23 of said gene, and / or the 3' end of the cDNA is determined between position 1901 and position 2218 of said gene (sequence SEQ ID N 2).

 The invention also relates to a process for obtaining transgenic plants having a resistance to stress and in particular photo-oxidative stress, according to which a plant cell is transformed with a gene coding for fibrillin, or a gene homologous to fibrillin, or a gene having an activity homologous to that of fibrillin, and in that the transformed cells are subjected to regeneration.

 By Fibrillin homologous gene is meant a gene homologous to fibrillin from Capsicum annuum isolated from another organism.

 By gene having an activity homologous to that of fibrillin, is meant a gene coding for a protein

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 homologous to fibrillin and giving the plant resistance to different stress conditions. For example, a protein whose identical function has been proposed in the case of the structuring of the fibrils of the cucumber flower chromoplasts (Vishnevetski et al., 1996 Plant Journal 10, 1111-1118) and the cloned cdsp34 protein may be mentioned. the inventors of the present application, in the case of chloroplasts of stressed potato leaves (Pruvot et al., Planta, 1996, 198: 471-479).

 Figures 1 to 3 show the behavior of a transgenic plant (right) and a wild plant (left) under conditions of water deficit as described in Example 4 (2). Figure 1 shows the plants at day 0, figure 2 at day 9 and figure 3 at day 21.

Figure 4 shows the growth of a transgenic plant (right) and a wild plant (left) under normal conditions (with watering and under a luminosity of 300 micromoles.m '2.s-1)
The characteristics and advantages of the objects of the invention are hereinafter highlighted in the following Examples 1 to 4.

Example 1 Construction of a vector of the invention by introduction of cDNA coding for pepper fibrillin in a plant expression vector
The vector pBI121 (marketed by Clontech Laboratories, Inc.) is a vector adapted to this construction.

 It has a T-DNA region that the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens can transfer into the genome of plants.

 This T-DNA region comprises among others a constitutive promoter (the 35S promoter of the CaMV virus), the GUS gene followed by the NOS terminator (of the gene

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 nopaline synthase). The GUS gene of no interest in the invention is replaced by a cDNA encoding fibrillin. This cDNA will therefore be under the control of the 35S promoter and the NOS terminator.

 Any other constitutive promoter or not (in the latter case, it must be specific to the organ whose properties are to be modified) and any other terminator can also be used.

 Two cDNAs encoding fibrillin were used, corresponding respectively to mRNAs called mRNA1 and mRNA2 in the article by J. Deruere et al.

(1994, Biochem Biophys Res., 199, 1144-1150) the contents of which are incorporated by reference. mRNA1 and mRNA2 differ in the presence or absence of intron 1, respectively, of the fibrillin gene. These 2 cDNAs had originally been subcloned into the NotI restriction site of the bacterial plasmid pBluescriptKS: they are thus flanked by 5 'BamHI cleavage sites and 3' SacI cleavage sites.

 These cDNAs have their 5 'end in position 1 (Sequence SEQ ID N 2), but any other position between positions 1 and 23 may also be suitable because the gene initiation codon is in position 24.

 These cDNAs have their 3 'end at position 2218 but any other position between the 1901 position (i.e. after the gene termination codon) and position 2218 may also be suitable.

 These 2 cDNAs are excised from the plasmid pBluescriptKS by the restriction enzymes BamHI and SacI. This BamHI-SacI fragment is inserted into the vector pBI121 itself cut by these enzymes: the BamHI site is located 3 'of the 35S promoter and 5' of the GUS gene, the SacI site is located 3 'of the GUS gene and 5 'of the terminator NOS.

 After ligation, the pBI121 vector derivatives are selected in which one or the other cDNA coding

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 for fibrillin (i.e. with or without intron) replaced the GUS gene.

 Example 2: Transformation of a plant cell to obtain a transformed cell of the invention.

 The plant transformation vector derived from pBI121 obtained in Example 1 is introduced into the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 by electroporation. The recombinant strain is selected in the presence of 50 g / ml kanamycin.

 This transformed strain of Agrobacterium is used for the transformation of plant cells, for example tobacco.

 The technique used for this purpose, which can be replaced by any other transformation technique, is the infection of leaf discs of tobacco seedlings grown in vitro. The transformed cells of plants are selected in the presence of kanamycin.

Agrobacterium is eliminated by the antibiotic cefotaxime.

The leaf discs are grown on a plant culture medium in the presence of plant hormones (auxin and cytokinins) promoting callus growth. The calli resulting from the growth of transformed cells are used for the regeneration of whole plants by conventional techniques. For example, the calli are transferred to a plant culture medium in the presence of cytokinin to induce shoot formation. These are then cut and transferred to hormone-free plant culture medium to regenerate roots. the antibiotics kanamycin (to select the growth of transformed tissues) and cefotaxime (to completely eliminate Agrobacterium) are maintained during all these phases of culture.

 The transformed plants are sterilely cultured in the presence of kanamycin and cefotaxime and are then transferred to the soil and grown in a greenhouse until

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 harvesting seeds The presence of the transgene was confirmed by hybridization of the genomic DNA of these plants with a specific probe derived from the transformation vector used.

 Different transgenic lines were tested for the presence of an mRNA corresponding to the transgenes. Lines that incorporated the mRNA1 cDNA (retaining intron 1) showed the highest mRNA levels of the transgene and were therefore used for the study of novel traits brought about by the constitutive presence of higher levels of fibrillin. .

Example 3 Selection of Transgenic Plants
A batch of seeds from a transgenic line is germinated on culture medium, then the seedlings are transplanted on potting soil. The presence of the fibrillin protein is tested by immunodetection in total protein extracts of the leaves of these plants, using anti-fibrillin antibodies of pepper. Lines are then created by in vitro propagation of seedlings containing fibrillin (transgenic lines) or not containing it (so-called wild control lines). These last plants are in proportion of about 27% which indicates a normal segregation of the transgene which is thus stably inherited in the descent.

Example 4 Characteristics of the Transgenic Plants of the Invention
These characteristics are evidenced by parallel cultivation of transgenic and wild lines, and comparison of size (1), resistance to water stress (2), and chlorophyll content of leaves (3) in different stress conditions.

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(1) Development of well watered plants
After about 3 weeks of growing in the culture chamber (light conditions: 300 micromol.m -2s-1) on the soil, transgenic plants have longer and thicker internodes than wild plants.

 In addition, more developed flower buds are observed in transgenic plants.

 These differences in growth and floral development do not appear in low light conditions (50,100 and 150 micromoles.m-2s-1) (see Table II below) and are more pronounced in high light conditions (1200 micromoles.m-2.s-1) (see Table III below).

 Table I summarizes the results obtained for average size, respectively, of wild plants and transgenic plants, after growth of culture in two representative experiments 1 and 2.

TABLE I Crop Conditions: Watered
Light: 300 micromoles.m-2.s-1

<Tb>
<tb> Plant <SEP> Plant
<tb> wild <SEP> transgenic
<tb> EXPERIENCE <SEP> Size <SEP> standard deviation <SEP> Size <SEP> standard deviation
<tb> average <SEP> average
<tb> 1 (a) <SEP> 31. <SEP> 2 <SEP> 5. <SEP> 0 <SEP> 38. <SEP> 7 <SEP> 6. <SEP> 4
<tb> (n = 6) <SEP> (n = 8)
<tb> 2 (b) <SEP> 13. <SEP> 9 <SEP> 1. <SEP> 7 <SEP> 17. <SEP> 3 <SEP> 3. <SEP> 2
<tb> (n = 4) <SEP> (n = 5)
<Tb>
(a): after 3.5 weeks (b): after 2.5 weeks

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Table II below presents the results obtained concerning the size, respectively, of wild plants and transgenic plants maintained in low light and watered, and therefore of a similar size at the beginning of the experiments.

TABLE II EXPERIMENT 1: 50 micromoles.m-2s-1; after 5 weeks
Wild plant: - average size: 15.5 - standard deviation: 3.4 (n = 4)
Transgenic plant: - average size: 14.2 - standard deviation: 2.8 (n = 4) EXPERIMENT 2: 100micromoles.m-1.s-1; after 5 weeks
Wild plant: - average size: 55.7 - standard deviation: 18.6 (n = 3)
Transgenic plant: - average size: 58.7 - standard deviation: 15.0 (n = 3) EXPERIMENT 3: 150micromoles.m-2.s-1
Wild plant: - size after about 2 weeks, starting size: 8 cm - size after 14 additional days: 26.5 cm
Transgenic plant: - size after about 2 weeks, starting size: 8 cm - size after 14 additional days: 28.5 cm

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Table III presents the results obtained concerning the size, respectively, of wild plants and transgenic plants, maintained for 2 weeks in low light (150 micromol.m-1.s-1) and then transferred in high brightness (1200 micromol.m. 1.s-1). Watering is maintained.

TABLE III
Wild plant: - size after about 2 weeks, starting size: 6 cm - size after 14 additional days: 46.5 cm
Transgenic plant: - starting size: 6 cm - size after 14 additional days: 60 cm (2) Behavior of plants under water deficit conditions
For these trials, young regularly watered plants of uniform size are used.

 After water saturation of the pots, watering is interrupted. Water stress settles.

 After 9 days, the lower leaves are necrotic and the upper leaves are wilted and not very turgid. There are distinct differences between wild plants and transgenic plants. The transgenic plants are larger and have a more rectilinear port of the main stem. Transgenic plants show more advanced floral development.

 These differences between wild and transgenic plants are further amplified after 21 days.

(3) Chlorophyll content
For wild plants and transgenic plants, the amount of chlorophyll was determined

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 for leaves at a height on the plant and at an equivalent stage of development.

 The comparisons were made in two types of stress conditions, between wild and transgenic plants: - normal conditions of development then stop of watering (table IV); - High illumination conditions (Table V), and compared to a non-stressed wild and transgenic control plant.

 Table IV presents the results obtained concerning the chlorophyll content in two representative experiments after growth in the culture chamber in the control condition (watering maintained) and in the water deficit condition (interrupted watering).

 The chlorophyll content is expressed in g chlorophyll / g dry weight.

TABLE IV
EXPERIMENT 1: the plants were about 3.5 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment; measurements were taken after 9 additional days.

Witness (watered):
Wild plant: - grade: 16189 - standard deviation: 544 (n = 2)
Transgenic plant: - content: 17250 - standard deviation: 1665 (n = 3)
Stop watering:
Wild plant - content: 15813 - standard deviation: 544 (n = 2)
Transgenic plant:

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- content: 16760 - standard deviation: 868 (n = 4)
EXPERIENCE 2: The plants were about 3.5 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment; measurements were taken after 12 additional days.

Witness (watered):
Wild plant: - grade: 17707 - standard deviation: 327 (n = 2)
Transgenic plant: - content: 21384 - standard deviation: 36 (n = 2)
Stop watering:
Wild plant: - grade: 11274 - standard deviation: 998 (n = 6)
Transgenic plant: - content: 12595 - standard deviation: 1403 (n = 8)
Table V presents the results obtained concerning the chlorophyll content after growth in control condition (low light) and in excess light condition.

 The chlorophyll content is expressed in g chlorophyll / g dry weight.

TABLE V
Witnesses (kept under low light 14 additional days):
Wild plant - content: 20907

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- standard deviation: 693 (n = 2)
Transgenic plant - grade: 22228 - standard deviation: 587 (n = 2)
Plants transferred under bright light 14 days):
Wild plant - grade: 14324 - standard deviation: 1242 (n = 2)
Transgenic plant: - grade: 16441 - standard deviation: 892 (n = 4)
The results obtained in Example 4 demonstrate that the constitutive presence of fibrillin confer on the transgenic plants a superior tolerance with respect to stresses and in particular water stress and photooxidative stress.

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 SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) DEPOSITOR: (A) NAME: JOSEPH FOURIER (B) STREET: (C) CITY: (E) COUNTRY: (F) POSTAL CODE: 38000 (ii) TITLE OF THE INVENTION: (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: (iv) COMPUTER-DEPENDABLE FORM: (A) SUPPORT TYPE: disk (B) COMPUTER: Compatible PC (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS / MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release # 1.0, Version # 1.30 (EPO) (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1: (i) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEQUENCE: (A) LENGTH: 322 amino acids (B) TYPE: amine (C) NUMBER OF STRANDS: (D) CONFIGURATION: linear (ii) TYPE OF MOLECULE: protein (iii) HYPOTHETIC: NO (xi) DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE: ID NO: 1:

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Met Al Ser Ser Ser Ser Leu Asn Gin Ile Pro Cys Lys Thr Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Thr Island Ser Ser Gin Tyr Ser Lys Ser Ser Ser Leu Pro Leu Thr Ser Pro
Asn Phe Pro Ser Lys Thr Glu Leu His Arg Ser Ile Ser Ile Lys Glu
35 40 45 Phe Thrn Asn Pro Lys Pro Lys Phe Thr Ala Gin Ala Thr Asp Tyr Asp
50 55 60 Lys Glu Asp Glu Trp Gly Pro Glu Leu Glu Gin Asn Island Pro Gly Gly 65 70 75 80 Val Ala Val Glu Glu Pro Glu Pro Glu Glu Pro Glu Glu Glu
85 90 95 Lilies Leuk Lys Gin Leu Thr Asp Ser Phe Tyr Gly Thr Asn Arg Gly
100 105 110 Leu Ser Ala ser Ser Glu Thr Arg Ala Glu Ile Val Glu Leu Ile Thr
115 120 125 Gin Leu Glu Ser Lys Pro Asn Pro Pro Pro Ala Pro Glu Ala Leu Ser
130 135 140 Leu Leu Asn Gly Lys Trp Ile Leu Ala Tire Thr Ser Phe Ser Gly Leu 145 150 155 160 Phe Pro Leu Leu Ala Arg Gly Asn Leu Leu Pro Val Arg Val Glu Glu
165 170 175 Ser Gin Thr Island Asp Ala Glu Thr Leu Thr Val Gin Asn Ser Val
180 185 190

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Val Phe Ala Gly Pro Ser Ser Thr Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Asn Ala Lys
195 200 205
Phe Glu Val Arg Ser Pro Lys Arg Leu Gin Ile Asn Phe Glu Glu Gly
210 215 220
Ile Gly Thr Island Pro Gin Leu Thr Asp Ser Glu Island Leu Pro Glu Asn
225 230 235 240
Val Glu Phe Leu Gly Gin Lys Ile Asp Leu Ser Pro Phe Lys Gly Leu
245 250 255
Thr Island Ser Ser Gin Val Asp Thr Ala Thr Val Val Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser
260,265,270
Ser Gin Pro Pro Ile Lys Phe Pro Ser Ser Asn Ser Tyr Ala Gin Ser
275 280 285
Trp Leu Leu Thr Thr Tyr Asp Asp Ala Glu Arg Arg
290,295,300
Asp Ala Gly Ser Ile Phe Val Leu Ile Lys Glu Gly Ser Pro Leu Leu
305 310 315 320
Lys Pro (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2: (i) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEQUENCE: (A) LENGTH: base pairs (B) TYPE: (C) NUMBER OF STRANDS: (D) CONFIGURATION: linear (ii) ) TYPE OF MOLECULE: cDNA

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 (Iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2: CCTTCTTTAT TCACTCTTAA ACAATGGCTT CCATCTCTTC TCTCAATCAA ATTCCTTGCA 60 AAACTCTCCA AATTACATCC CAATATTCAA AAATTTCATC TTTACCCCTC ACATCCCCAA 120 ATTTCCCATC AAAAACTGAA CTACACAGAT CAATTTCAAT CAAAGAATTC ACAAACCCAA 180 AACCAAAATT CACAGCACAA GCCACAAATT ACGACAAGGA AGATGAGTGG GGTCCGGAAC 240 TGGAGCAAAT AAATCCAGGT GGAGTAGCAG TTGTGGAGGA AGAACCACCA AAAGAGCCGA 300 GTGAAATGGA GAAGCTGAAG AAGCAATTGA CGGATTCTTT TTATGGAACT AATAGGGGTT 360 TGAGTGCTAG CAGTGAAACT AGGGCTGAGA TCGTTGAACT TATTACTCAG CTTGAATCGA 420 AGAACCCTAC TCCAGCACCT ACTGAAGCCT TGTCTCTTCT TAATGGCAAA TGGATTCTTG 480 CGTAAGTTCT TTTTTTTTTT TTAGCTGCAC CATGAAAAAT ATATGCTTTA TTACACGGTC 540 CATATTACTG GTCTGTCGGA GAAATCCAAT TTTTTCCTCT ACAGAAATGC TAAGATAAGA 600 TAAACCCTTT TGATTTGGTC CTCTTGGACC TGCATATTGC TTTAGTGTAA CAGTTTTTTT 660 TTAAAGTAGA GTAGTACTAT TCAGAGGTGG ATCAAGATTT GGAGGTTATG AGTTCGCATA 720 ATGATTTCAA GTTAATATGC AATAGTCACT AGGTTCACAG CTAAATACAA CAACATAACA 780 ATTGTAATCC GACAAG TGGG GTCTGGAGAG TTCAGAGTGT AGGTAGACCT TAGCCCTGCT 840 TTAGGTAAAT AGAGTCTGTT CCCATAGACC CTCGGCTCAT GCAAAAAAAA TATCAAAGAA 900 GATATTATAT AAAGCATGAC AAAACTACTA CCACAGATGA TATAAATATT TAGGGATGAT 960

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 TAATAGATTC TGAAAGAACT TCTTTTCTTA ATGTTTGATG CCCTTTTTTT ACCCCTTGGT 1020 AAGCTGGATT CTGTTAATCT TTAACGGAGT ATTGCAGTTT GATGTGGAGA AAAGCCTTCT 1080 TTGAGCATCA ATTTCTTAGT CATGAGAATG CAGGTGGCAT CTTTTCACCA CCATAATTGG 1140 TCCCTTGTTG TACTCTAGCT CATCATTATC TTTTGATGAA GACAATGACA TTGTTTAGTC 1200 CCCGAAGAAC GTTAAATGTT CTTGCTTCAG TGTATATGTG ATTACTCGCG CTTGTTGGCA 1260 TACGAACACT TGGAATTCTG TACTGAAACA CTGCAGGTAC ACATCTTTTT CTGGTTTGTT 1320 CCCTTTGTTG GCAAGGGGAA ATCTGCTTCC GGTTCGAGTT GAGGAGATTT CCCAGACCAT 1380 TGATGCTGAG ACTTTAACCG TCCAAAATTC TGTTGTCTTT GCTGGGCCTT TATCTACAAC 1440 TTCCATTAGC ACCAATGCCA AGTTCGAAGT CAGAAGTCCT AAACGTCTCC AGGTTGTTAA 1500 TCTCTTTAAC ATTTTCCTAG TCTTGTCATC GTTCTTCATA CATGGTCATC ATTTTAGTCT 1560 CATGTTATAC TGTGTTTGTG GTTCAGATCA ACTTCGAAGA AGGCATAATA GGAACACCCC 1620 AGTTGACAGA TTCTATTGAG TTGCCTGAGA ACGTCGAATT CTTGGGACAA AAGATTGATC 1680 TTAGCCCCTT CAAAGGCTTG ATTACTTCAG TCCAGGACAC AGCTACCTCA GTAGCCAAGT 1740 CCATTTCAAG TCAACCACCA ATCAAGTTTC CTATTTCCAA CAGCTATGCA CAATCATGGT 1800 TGCTGA CAAC ATACTTGGAT GCTGAGCTTA GGATTTCCAG AGGAGATGCT GGCAGTATTT 1860 TTGTGTTGAT CAAGGAAGGC AGTCCCCTCT TGAAGCCTTA AAGAGAGACA TGTTCTCAGA 1920 GTCGTGCATG ATCTAAGTAT ACATAAGCGA GCTAGCAATA GAAATTGGAA AAAAATAATG 1980 GCAGTAAACT AGAAATAAAT TTTTCCTTAT GTCAAATTCT ATAGGTGCCT TGGCCTCGTG 2040

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 ATTTGTACCT ATGGTATGTA TCAAATATTG AAAAATAGAA ATATAGGTTG AAAGAAGTTA 2100 ACGTATGAAT CACTTTGCAA GAGTCTATTC AATTTTGGAA GCCTTCATAT GCAGATTTAC 2160 ATTGATAAGA TAACTAGTCC CCAAATCGAG TTTGCCTCAT CTTTTCATGA ACTTGTTC 2218

Claims (14)

A transformed plant cell comprising at least the coding part of the gene coding for fibrillin and the means necessary for its expression.  2. Cell according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the gene coding for fibrillin from Capsicum annuum.  2. Transgenic plant having a resistance to stress, especially photooxidative stresses, obtainable by regeneration of a cell according to claim 1.  3. Transformation vector, comprising at least the coding part of the gene coding for fibrillin and the means necessary for its expression.  4. Vector according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises the gene coding for fibrillin from Capsicum annuum.  The vector of claim 3 or 4 for transforming a plant cell, further comprising a transcription promoter or transcription promoter fragment of a gene expressing naturally in plants.  6. Vector according to claim 5, characterized in that the promoter is selected from constitutively expressed promoters, or from differentially regulated promoters.  7. Vector according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a transcription terminator.  8. Vector according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a complementary DNA corresponding to said gene.  9. Vector according to claim 8, characterized in that the cDNA further comprises at least one of the two introns-1 and -2 of said gene. <Desc / Clms Page number 22>  10. Vector according to claim 9, characterized in that the cDNA comprises the two introns-1 and -2 of said gene.  11. Vector according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the 5 'end of the cDNA is determined between the position 1 and position 23dudit gene.  12. Vector according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the 3 'end of the cDNA is determined between the 1901 position and the 2218 position of said gene.  13. Process for obtaining transgenic plants having a resistance to stress and in particular photo-oxidative stress, characterized in that a plant cell is transformed with a gene encoding fibrillin, or a gene homologous to fibrillin, or a gene having an activity homologous to that of fibrillin, and in that the transformed cells are subjected to regeneration.  14. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the plant cell is transformed using a vector according to any one of claims 5 to 12.